By: HK Gilbert, Director of Program Services For over a century, Camp Fire’s mission has been to provide a safe place where kids come together to learn, grow, and build connections with nature. But like many legacy organizations, our past also includes a history of harm. Specifically, taking and using Native American traditions, symbols, […]
Acknowledgment of past mistakes is one thing. Taking active, intentional steps to repair and make amends for past and current harm is a whole other story. Since 2019, Camp Fire has been on a journey to address and end cultural appropriation within our organization. As 2024 comes to a close, we want to provide an […]
One of Camp Fire’s five interwoven strategic commitments is addressing and ending cultural appropriation. In 2020, Camp Fire began working with Thrive Paradigm to identify culturally appropriative elements of its programming and recommend changes aligned with Camp Fire’s values of equity and inclusivity. In April through July of last year, Thrive Paradigm helped Camp Fire […]
A Message from our Senior Advisor of Native Partnerships, Diana Cournoyer Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 12) is an opportunity to celebrate the strength, cultures, knowledge, and enduring presence of Native and Indigenous peoples. At Camp Fire, it is also a time to reflect on our responsibility to continue learning, repair harm, and build relationships with […]
NATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AT CAMP FIRE ADVANCES A FUTURE WHERE NATIVE YOUTH THRIVE. Our Vision & Guiding Principles When Native communities help shape the future of Camp Fire, Native youth thrive, relationships deepen, and all young people benefit from a more inclusive, culturally grounded, and connected world. This vision comes to life through seven guiding principles: […]
support young people Buy chocolate, make an impact. Together, we are investing in the next generation. When Camp Fire youth sell Puyallup Chocolates, they not only earn funds to attend life-changing camp experiences and year-round programs, but also develop real-world skills. This link takes you to one of our Camp Fire affiliates. You will buy […]
As we close out 2025, we’re taking a moment to breathe, look back, and celebrate what we built together this year. From expanding youth safety and well-being to repairing the harm our organization has caused by cultural appropriation, to forging new partnerships, 2025 was a year where the Camp Fire community truly showed what it looks like […]
Originally released on PR Newswire Native-Owned Chocolate Brand to be Signature Fundraising Centerpiece for Youth Across the U.S. to Learn Life Skills and Attend Camp [Kansas City, Nov. 12, 2025] – Through an exclusive partnership with the Native-owned Puyallup Chocolates, Camp Fire youth will sell one of the world’s newest premium chocolate brands to help […]
Camp Fire has a 115-year legacy of connecting young people to the outdoors, to others, and to themselves. While the way we’ve done it might have evolved, the quality and commitment of our programs and leaders are what have kept young people and families walking through our doors. At our 2025 National Leadership Conference, six […]
Acknowledging Our History and Harm For generations, Camp Fire has taken and used Native and Indigenous practices, clothing, language, and symbols for our own benefit; this is cultural appropriation. We understand how harmful it has been for Native youth to see themselves as caricatures within youth development organizations like ours. This isn’t just a problem […]
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